13 Mar Basilica del Voto Nacional in Quito, Ecuador

The Basilica del Voto Nacional is one of the most unique and stunning buildings in the entire city of Quito, Ecuador. Not only can you explore the ground floor full of altars, chapel rooms, and more, but you can also climb a few staircases and ladders to a viewpoint from the towers. While the climb might make you a bit nervous if you have a fear of heights, you will be rewarded with a 360 degree view of the city. Moreover, take some time to appreciate the architecture on the outside of the Basilica, especially the gargoyles.

If you are traveling to South America to visit Ecuador, then can I convince you to also add Peru to your itinerary? Some of my favorite attractions in Peru include Machu Picchu as well as Rainbow Mountain. Both attractions have challenging yet incredibly rewarding hiking trails.

Contents:

1) Location of Basilica del Voto Nacional

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) Background of the Church

4) Outside the Church

5) Inside the Church

6) Viewpoint from the Towers

1) Location of Basilica del Voto Nacional

The Basilica del Voto Nacional is located in the city of Quito, Ecuador. For further detail, it is located at the intersection of Venezuela and Carchi streets.

There are a variety of parks, restaurants, shops, and other attractions within walking distance of the Basilica. You thus will not have an issue filling your day with things to do while in this part of the city. Furthermore, check out this one day itinerary in Quito for additional ideas on Quito’s most popular attractions.

For a unique attraction just outside of the city, head about 45 minutes north to Mitad del Mundo. The equator line lies here as well as a variety of shops, restaurants, and interactive exhibits.

Parking

There is a parking lot right next to the Basilica. However, please be aware of a couple of things. First, the parking lot does not offer an overabundance of spaces, so you might have some difficulty finding a spot on a beautiful, weekend afternoon. Second, it can be a bit challenging to maneuver around the lot due to the fact it is somewhat small. There is not a lot of room to pull in and out of spaces, so be sure you are comfortable with five or ten point turns before you enter.

The other option is to try and find parking on a nearby street and walk to the Basilica. However, I would recommend that you consider taking public transportation to avoid any parking struggles.

View of the clock towers from the top of the Basilica

Getting to the Basilica del Voto Nacional

You have a few options concerning how to arrive at the Basilica del Voto Nacional. First, you can drive. As mentioned above, there is a parking lot right beside the Basilica. Second, you can take a taxi. How much the taxi costs depends on where you are departing. However, there are taxi calculators online to help you figure out your budget if needed. For example, a standard fee is around $1 for the taxi, $1 per kilometer (~0.6 miles), and a bit more for any traffic encountered.

Third, you can take public transportation. Quito has a fairly extensive bus system throughout the city, and there are multiple stops within a couple of minutes walk from the Basilica. Which bus stop you will arrive at depends from where you are coming, i.e. north, south, etc. Bus fares will only cost you a couple of dollars per day.

Closest Airport

The closest international airport is the Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport. It is located approximately 24 miles (~38 kilometers) from the Basilica. This translates to a one hour drive by car or a two hour trip by public transportation.

The city of Quito on a cloudy day

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

The Basilica del Voto Nacional’s opening hours differ slightly on the weekdays versus the weekends. It is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Mondays through Fridays. On the other hand, it is open from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. You thus have an extra hour of visiting time on the weekends.

The entrance fee amount depends on how much of the Basilica you would like to visit. First, you can pay $2 to walk through the main rooms of the Basilica. Second, you can pay an additional $2 (for a total of $4) to explore the entire Basilica. This includes access to the viewpoint at the top of the towers where you can look over the city of Quito.

My opinion? Definitely pay the $4 so you can access the tower viewpoint. The view is absolutely incredible and was the highlight of my visit to the Basilica. Also, keep in mind that Ecuador’s currency is US dollars.

Stained glass window inside the Basilica del Voto Nacional

3) Background of the Church

The Basilica del Voto Nacional is built in the neo-gothic style. Moreover, it is one of the largest buildings in all of South America with this particular style. The architect, Emilio Tarlier, was inspired a bit by Notre Dame. However, Emilio also worked to ensure the architecture was inspired by the country of Ecuador itself. You can especially see this in some of the details, including the gargoyles on the outside.

The dimensions of the Basilica are 377 feet (~115 meters) tall, 460 feet (~140 meters) long, and 115 feet (~35 meters) wide. Furthermore, Basilica del Voto Nacional translates to Basilica of the National Vow in English.

Creation of the Basilica del Voto Nacional

Father Julio Matovelle was the brain behind the Basilica del Voto Nacional. In 1883, Julio finally got some movement behind the desire and passion for a Basilica to be built in the city of Quito. However, money is always an issue with starting construction, especially for a building of this magnitude. The Ecuadorian Congress, therefore, donated 12,000 pesos to the Basilica project in 1884. While that is not a lot of money today (only about $650), it was a fair amount back then.

Nevertheless, the Basilica needed a lot more money to be built. The unique architecture, carving, and details inherent in its design did not come cheap. They thus asked for donations to the project. In return, anyone who donated would have their name carved into a stone within the church.

Unique view from a circular window inside the Basilica

Construction of the Basilica del Voto Nacional

Construction first started in 1884, the same year that the Ecuador Congress donated 12,000 pesos. The first stone for the Basilica was then placed a few years later in 1892. Construction then continued for approximately 30 years before the Basilica held its first mass in 1924. Fast forward to 1985 when construction was generally finished, and Pope Juan Pablo II blessed the Basilica del Voto Nacional.

Construction thus lasted for a period of almost 100 years. However, the Basilica is technically not entirely finished. There are still places where gargoyles can be placed or chapels can be filled. Legend states that when the Basilica is finished, the world will end. No wonder they do not want to completely finalize the building.

An array of stained glass windows in the Basilica

4) Outside the Church

Be sure to appreciate the outside of the building before you enter. All of the unique little details in the architecture are incredible. You could spend hours starting at it all. Nevertheless, one of the highlights on the outside of the Basilica are the gargoyles.

The architect made an effort to incorporate Ecuadorian culture into the design, and thus the gargoyles represent animals native to Ecuador. For example, there are iguana, tortoise, monkey, and other gargoyles.

Entrance to the Basilica del Voto Nacional

5) Inside the Church

To enter the main area of the Basilica, be sure to enter through the side entrance. This is where you will pay the $2 entrance fee. There will be a small café by the entrance, so be sure to stop by if you need to grab some coffee or a bite to eat.

Then feel free to explore the church at your own leisure. For example, there are 24 different small chapels on the main floor, one for each of the provinces in Ecuador. Additionally, there are many altars for different historical, biblical figures on the main floor as well as a crypt in the basement. One of the most beautiful aspects of the Basilica are the stained glass windows. They depict various things, for example flowers and patterns as well as biblical figures and scenes.

View of the Basilica’s ground floor from above

6) Viewpoint from the Towers

First, please note that you must purchase a separate entrance ticket to visit the towers. The entrance is at the front of the church. There should be people sitting at a desk in front of this entrance to collect the fee from you.

There is an elevator that gets you up some of the way to the towers, but please note it is not always in operation. Therefore, you are going to have to climb some stairs and ladders.

For a view of Quito that is a bit easier to access, check out El Virgen del Panecillo. It is also a statue with an interesting history behind it, so you can spend an hour or two at the museum learning all about it after taking in the views from outside.

Climbing to the Top – Staircases

Making the climb to the top is quite the adventure, but that is also what makes the viewpoint so special. The first part of the ascent is climbing up a few winding staircases. Please keep in mind that these staircases are fairly narrow, so you do not want to cart anything with you other than a small purse or backpack. People going up as well as people coming down will use these staircases, so you might also have to squeeze a bit to make room or wait for those coming down to finish their descent.

At the top of these staircases, you will already be rewarded with a beautiful view. You will be standing on a level about half the height of the Basilica. Therefore, you will be able to look down on the main floor below as well as have a great view of the stained glass windows.

Then the climb continues. You will walk up another staircase and find yourself above the ceiling of the Basilica. There is a small wooden platform extending the length of the room. However, this walkway is not for the faint of heart. If you have a fear of heights, you might start to feel a bit uneasy.

Walking along a wooden platform above the ceilings of the Basilica

Climbing to the Top – Ladders

Nevertheless, what comes next is the scariest part of the climb to the viewpoint. At the end of the room with the wooden walkway, you will climb a short ladder that leads to the outside. This ladder is not too bad. However, the next ladder is a bit worse. The final ladder is completely outside, and it is a steep ladder with metal rungs. This means you can look down through the ladder to the ground hundreds of feet below. Again, those with a fear of heights might not feel comfortable at this point. Although, you just have to finish this final ladder to be at the viewpoint. Climb or do not climb – do what feels best for you.

Additionally, keep in mind that you also have to climb back down the ladder once you are done at the viewpoint. I had a small backpack on my back, and I was not able to climb down with my back facing the ladder because my backpack would get stuck. Instead, I had to climb down with my chest facing the ladder. Just something I want to flag for those of you planning to carry backpacks or other similar items.

View at the Top of the Basilica del Voto Nacional

Let me tell you, the view at the top is definitely worth trekking up all the winding staircases and ladders. You have a 360 degree view of the city of Quito. Additionally, you can get a more up close look at some of the architecture on the Basilica, especially the towers.

For another great view in Ecuador, check out the Swing at the End of the World in Baños. You can swing over a cliff’s edge and view the stunning scenery of Baños and Tungurahua volcano.

View of Quito amongst clouds from the top of the Basilica

Words of Caution

First and foremost, please note that the climb to the top can be a bit scary for those with a fear of heights. As I mentioned previously, there are some sections with steep ladders where you can look to the ground hundreds of feet below. If you have a fear of heights, you might want to reconsider adventuring to the top of the towers. On the other hand, you can try really hard to make sure you do not look down.

Second, climbing to the top might not be suitable for young children. The steep staircases and ladders can be dangerous, especially for kids. Third, you will want to take extra care if you are climbing to the top on a rainy day. The stairs and ladders will become slippery when wet, so use the utmost caution or consider coming back on a sunny day.

Nevertheless, you should prioritize a visit to the Basilica del Voto Nacional, no matter rain or shine. It boasts stunning architecture with various aspects of Ecuadorian culture incorporated into its design as well as a viewpoint overlooking the city of Quito.

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Be sure to visit the legendary swing in the town of Baños while in Ecuador: The Swing at the End of the World.

Baños also holds a variety of stunning waterfalls: Pailón del Diablo Waterfall near Baños.